GI: Diarrhea - Ascites Flashcards
PTs may define diarrhea as ?
Frequent, more than 3/day
Loose, watery
Urgency
What is the criteria for persistent diarrhea
What is the limit for chronic diarrhea?
Diarrhea lasting between 2 and
4 wks
+4 wks
What are two important considerations in the work up for diarrhea?
Acute vs Chronic
Non vs Inflammatory
Etiology of acute diarrhea
Are these present?
Severe illness (<7days; Fever, Pain, Bloody diarrhea, +6 BMs/24hr, Dehydration)
Immunocompromised
Elderly +70yrs
What is the next step for treating acute diarrhea if the severe illness, immune compromise of non-elderly criteria are NOT met?
Sx therapy: anti-diarrhea- loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate
What is the next step when treating acute diarrhea and the severe illness, immune compromise of non-elderly criteria are ARE met or illness is present after 7-10 days after Sx therapy?
Stool sample for: Fecal leukocyte Routine stool culture C Diff Ova/parasite testing- if travel, +10day, water outbreak, relationship criteria is met
Acute diarrhea meeting severe illness/immune/elder criteria or or lasting 7-10 days after Sx therapy will have stool samples tested for ova/parasite. Empiric ABX therapy is considered while waiting culture if ?
\+ fecal leukocyte Bloody diarrhea Fever Ab pain Dehydration/ +8 BMs/24hrs Immunocompromised Hospitalization REQ'D
Acute diarrhea lasting less than 2wks is most commonly caused by ?
Acute non-inflamm: virus, non-invasive bacteria
Acute inflamm: invasive or toxing producing bacteria
Characteristics of acute inflammatory diarrhea?
Blood, pus or fever
Invasive/toxin producing bacteria
Stool cultures: E Coli O157:H5 and O157:H7, C Diff and Ova/parasite
What are the Viral causes of noninflammatory diarrhea?
Norovirus* Rotavirus* Astrovirus Adenovirus Sapovirus
What are the Protozoal causes of non-inflammatory diarrhea?
Giardia*
Crytposporidium
Cyclospora
What are the bacterial causes of non-inlfammatory diarrhea?
Preformed enterotoxins= Staph A, Bacillus Cereus, Clostridium Perfringens
Enterotoxin production= E Coli ETEC, V Cholera, Vibrio Vulnificus
What are the viral and protozoal causes of inflammatory diarrhea?
V= cytomegalovirus P= entamoeba histolytica
What are the bacterial causes of inflammatory diarrhea?
Cytotoxin producing- EHEC H5/H7, V parahaemolyticus, C Diff
CYCLASES PY
Mucosal invasion= Shigella, C Jejuni, Salmonella, EIEC, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Yersinia entercolitica, Chlamydia, N Gonorrheoae or Listeria Monocytogenes
What are the relevant Hx facts for acute diarrhea?
Bloody vs watery (nonbloody) Recent travel Diet/new places ABX use Sick contacts
What are the essentials of Dx for non-inflammatory diarrhea?
Duration less than 2wks Watery, non bloody Mild, self limited Virus/non invasive bacteria SMALL Bowel Dx eval only if severe/+7 days
What are the common etiologies of non-inflammatory diarrhea?
Viral- Norovirus, Rotavirus
Protozoa- Giardia (water park)
What are the S/Sx of non-inflammatory diarrhea?
Loose water stool 10 bm/day Cramps Bloat N/V Signs of dehydration- dizzy, light headed, OHOTN
What are the essentials of Dx for Acute Inflammatory diarrhea
Less than 2wks
Blood, pus, or fever usually caused by invasive/toxin producing bacteria in
LARGE bowel
What does diagnosis evaluation require for Acute Inflammatory Diarrhea?
Routine stool culture for E Coli O157:H7
Testing is indicated for C Diff and parasite/ova
What are the common etiologies of Acute Inflammatory Diarrhea?
E Coli
Shigella
Salmonella
C Diff- if recent ABX use
What are the Sx of Acute Inflammatory Diarrhea?
Loose bloody stools but lower in vol
Fever and severe LLQ pain
Tenesmus
What are the Signs of Acute Inflammatory Diarrhea that prompt evaluation?
Signs of inflammatory diarrhea: fever, WBC +150K, Blood diarrhea w/ severe ab pain Frail elderly/nursing home PT Immunocompromised Nosocomial, onset in 3 days ABX exposure Systemic illness
What are the evaluation steps for Non/Inflammatory Diarrhea?
Non= Self limited and mild
Labs usually not req’d unless persists +7 days or constant/severe dehydration
Inflammatory= prompt eval for ALL cases
If PT presents with acute diarrhea, what findings/signs prompt a immediate/further evaluation?
Peritoneal findings present with W Diff or STEC
What are the lab tests needed for acute diarrhea?
Fecal leukocytes- will be neg in non-inflammatory PTs
Stool culture- OP, 3 samples needed
C Diff if recent ABX use
Fecal Lactoferrin- marker for intestine inflammation
What are the general treatment strategies for acute diarrhea?
BRAT Avoid high fiber foods, fats, dairy and caffeine Re-hydrate PO liquids Oral rehydration salts
What pharmacotherapy is recommended for acute diarrhea PTs?
What is the down side/consideration for these?
Antidiarrhea
Loperamide
Bismuth subsalicylate
Used to allow PT to continue work/mission, works AGAINST the body’s mechanisms
When are ABX considered to be given to Acute Diarrhea PTs?
Not always indicated
Non-hospital acquired diarrhea w/ mod/severe fever, tenesmus or bloody stool, or presence of fecal lactoferrin
Immunocompromised PTs
Significant dehydration
Emipiric treatment may be considered for what acute diarrhea PT while their stool cultures are growing?
Non-hospital acquired diarrhea w/ mod/severe fever Tenesmus Bloody stool No STEC suspicion Immunocompromised PTs Significant dehydration
What is the pathophysiology of Traveler’s Diarrhea
Most commonly from ETEC in PTs w/ Hx of recent travel that presents w/ abrupt, watery diarrhea, cramping and nausea w/in 10 days of return
How is Traveler’s Diarrhea managed?
ETEC most commonly caused S/Sx
Rehydrate, Cipro, Azithromycin- if pregnant
Diarrhea, Ab cramping, Nausea, Bloating
What ABX are used for empiric treatment for acute diarrhea?
Fluoroquinolones are DOC Ciprofloxacin 500mg BID Ofloxacin 400mg BID Levofloxacin 500mg QD All for 5-7days Others: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 160/800mg BID Doxycycline 100mg BID
Are ABX recommended for Traveler’s Diarrhea?
Diarrhea onset w/in 10 days of return- ABX can shorten duration by days
Rx can also be given to PTs prior to travel
What meds are given for inflammatory Traveler’s Diarrhea?
PO DOC for empiric treatment: Ciprofloxacin 500mg Ofloxacin 400mg or, Levofloxacin 500mg 1/day for 1-3 days Alternatives= Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole 160/800mg BID Doxy 100mg BID
What meds are used for Inflammatory Traveler’s Diarrhea non-empirically?
Fluoroquinolones- 3 day course but not useful in SE Asia
Azithromycin 1 g single dose
Rifaximin 200mg TID x 3 days
Fluoroquinolones, Azithromycin and Rifaximin are specific treatments for Inflammatory Traverl’s Diarrhea that are caused by what microbes?
Shigellosis Cholera Extraintestinal Salmonellosis Listeriosis Traveler's D C Diff Giardia Amebiasis
What meds are used for non-inflammatory Traverl’s Diarrhea?
Rifaximin- 200mg BID x 3 days and Azithromycin 1g single dose or 500mg daily x 3 days for EMPIRIC treatment
When are PTs with Traveler’s Diarrhea considered for admission?
Severe dehydration of IV fluids especially if intolerable to PO fluids
Bloody diarrhea
Severe ab pain
Fever +39.5*C or sepsis
+70 y/o or immunocompromisesd w/ worsening diarrhea
S/Sx of hemoytic-uremic syndrome
What PO fluids are recommended for Traveler’s Diarrhea rehydration?
Water Gatorade Tea Flat carbonated beverages Or re-hydration salts if necessary
When considering chronic diarrhea, what exclusions must be ruled out?
Causes of acute Lactose intolerance IBS Previous gastric surgery/ileal resection Parasitic infection Meds Systemic Dz
What labs/tests are done for a chronic diarrhea PT?
Fecal leukocytes and occult blood
Colonoscopy with biopsy
Small bowel imaging with barium, CT or MRE
What does it mean if chronic diarrhea labs/tests come back abnormal?
Inflammatory bowel dz
Cancer
What is the next step if chronic diarrhea labs/tests come back abnormal?
Stool E+, osmolality, weight/24hrs and quantitative fat
ALMOST ALL CASES REFERRED TO GI
What are the next steps/considerations if chronic diarrhea PT has an increased osmotic gap?
Inc fecal fat= malabsorption, pancreatic insufficiency or bacterial overgrowth
Norm fecal fat= lactose intolerance, Sorbitol/Lactulose laxative abuse
What are the next steps/considerations if chronic diarrhea PT has a normal osmotic gap?
Normal stool weight= IBS or factitious diarrhea
Inc weight= secretory stool weight
For diarrhea to be considered “chronic”, it must be present for how long?
What are the common causes that must be immediately ruled out?
Longer than 4wks
Meds
Chronic infections
IBS
What are causes of chronic diarrhea?
Osmotic/secretory diarrhea Inflammation conditions Meds Malabsorption syndromes Motility disorders- IBS Chronic infections Systemic disorders
What are the Hx questions for Chronic Diarrhea?
Continuous / intermittent Relation to meals Nightly occurence? Fasting occurence? Appearance Ab pain/cramping Meds Weight loss Stressors
What are the most common causes of chronic diarrhea and need to be ruled out prior to work up?
Meds
IBS
Lactose intolerance
What findings/Sx are inconsistent with the most common causes of chronic diarrhea and warrant further evaluation?
Nocturnal diarrhea
Weight loss
Anemia
Pos FOBT
What is the first part of the work up for chronic diarrhea?
Exclude most common causes (Med, LI, IBS)
Evaluation directed at most likely etiology based on Sx and Hx
What are the lab tests for Chronic Diarrhea?
CBC Chem 17 LFT Thyroid studies ESR CRP
What stool studies are ordered for chronic diarrhea?
Culture Leukocytes Lactoferrin Occult blood O&P E+
Why is a colonoscopy with biopsy warranted for a chronic diarrhea PT?
What are the “other” tests that can be ordered?
Exclude IBD and neoplasm
24hrs stool collection- total weight/total fat
What are the clues for Osmotic Diarrhea
Stool volume decreases w/ fasting
Increased osmotic gap that resolves with fasting
What are the etiologies for osmotic diarrhea?
*Carbohydrate malabsorption- consider in all Pts w/ chronic posprandial diarrhea, ask about dairy/artificial sweetener intake
Lax abuse
Malabsorption syndrome
How is Osmotic Diarrhea identified?
Elimination trial: Laxative abuse, malabsorption
Diagnosis of carb malabsorption can be established after how long of an elimination trial?
2-3 wks or,
H breath test
What are the most common causes of Osmotic Diarrhea?
Carbohydrate malabsoprtion- lactose, fructose, sorbitol
Laxative abuse
Malabsorption syndromes
Osmotic diarrhea resolve during ___ and are characterized by ?
Resolve during fasting
Characterized by- abnormal distension, bloating, and flatulence from inc colonic gas
What is the definition/criteria for Secretory Diarrhea?
+1L/day
Normal osmotic gap that doesn’t change w/ fasting
Inc intestinal secretion and/or decreased absorption
What are the etiologies of Secretory Diarrhea?
Endocrine Tumors
Bile Salt malabsorption
What are the clues of inflammatory chronic diarrhea?
Fever
Hematochezia
Ab pain